USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 25
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Mr. Oldenburg was prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Knights of the Maccabees. the Royal Arcanum and the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church and his life was actuated by high and honorable principles, which made his death the occasion of deep regret not only to his immediate family but to his many friends throughout the city.
JOHN R. RUEL.
John R. Ruel is now retired from active work after having been identified with various lines of business activity in Wisconsin since he was twenty- six years of age. He was born May 30, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary (Golden) Ruel, natives of Ireland. His father's birth occurred in Tipperary, and he came to America when he was a young man, settling in Brown county, Wisconsin, where he followed farming. He was success-
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ful as an agriculturist and was identified with that line of activity until his death, which occurred in 1870 when he was fifty-one years of age. His wife came to the United States with her parents and settled in Brown county, where her father, J. Golden, became well known as a general farmer. She and her husband had five children, three of whom are still living: John, the subject of this review; Edward, of Green Bay; and Peter, who lives in De Pere.
John R. Ruel was reared on his father's farm and after he completed his education in the public schools of Brown county, assisted in the operation of the home place. This he conducted until he was twenty-six years of age, at which time he established himself in the general mercantile business, opening a store in Wrightstown. For six years he gave his attention to that enterprise, selling out eventually and accepting a position as a traveling salesman. He successfully continued in that occupation for nine years and later was engaged in the lumber business in Marinette county for seven years, at the end of which time he resumed his position as a commercial traveler and by industry, hard work and that instinctive knowledge of men which is the basis of trie salesmanship, gained a gratifying degree of suc- cess. He is now living retired in Green Bay, where he has many acquaint- ances and friends.
Mr. Ruel married Miss Ellen M. Eagan, who was born in Wrightstown in 1854. She is a daughter of one of the old settlers in Brown county, her father having come to America in his early youth and purchased land in that section where he farmed until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruel have been born eight children : Ellen May, who lives at home; Myrtle, the wife of A. Parmentier, of Green Bay; and Frances, Ethel, Iona, Gertrude, Golden, and Marilla, all of whom live at home.
Mr. Ruel is a Roman Catholic in his religious belief and is a member of the Order of Foresters affiliated with that church. His political views are democratic and he is an active worker in the interests of his party, believ- ing in the efficacy of the principles which it advocates. In the fall of 1912 he was a candidate for county treasurer and was defeated at the primaries by only twenty-five votes.
PETER L. TICKLER.
Prominent among the enterprising, progressive and successful business men of Green Bay is numbered Peter L. Tickler, proprietor of a well equipped hardware store. He was born in this city in 1860, a son of Henry and Ida (Thomas) Tickler. His parents were married in Amsterdam, Hol- land, and in 1851 came to the United States with their two children, Albert and Henry. They made their way direct to Green Bay and the father secured employment in the old Astor planing mill, the only establishment of the kind in the city at that time. He afterward followed the carpenter's and builder's trade, working for Morgan L. Martin and many of the pioneers. He erected many residences and business blocks and thus became
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closely associated with the substantial improvement of the city. After the arrival of the family in Green Bay eight children were added to the house- hold, making a family of five sons and five daughters as follows: Albert. a resident of Green Bay; Henry, who makes his home in New Orleans ; Mary, living in Green Bay; Peter L .; Annie, the wife of Joseph Farns- worth of Green Bay; Theodore, of this city who is a traveling salesman for Weiss & Holman ; Ida, the wife of William Van Oss, of Green Bay ; Rose. who died when forty-two years of age; Lewis, residing in Missoula, Mon- tana ; and Josephine, the wife of Edward Donlan, a resident of Missoula, now serving as state senator of Montana. The parents have both passed away, the mother having died in 1877 at the age of fifty-two years, while the father departed this life in 1905 at the age of seventy-five.
Peter L. Tickler was educated in the public schools of this city, pursuing his course in the consecutive grades until he entered the high school. Ile started in the business world as an employe of L. G. Scheller and later was connected with the Wisconsin Bridge Company. He worked in a planing mill for some time, but desirous to engage in business on his own account wisely utilized his opportunities and in 1891 joined S. A. Brown in opening a tin shop under the firm name of Brown & Tickler. Later they extended the scope of their business to include a stock of general hardware and the partnership relations between them were maintained until January 1, 1912, when Mr. Brown retired and Mr. Tickler became sole proprietor. He now enjoys an extensive trade, his business being one of growing proportions owing to his enterprising methods, his reasonable prices and his earnest (lesire to please his patrons.
ROLAND S. BURNETT.
Roland S. Burnett, who for some years has been successfully engaged in operating a stone quarry in Howard township, is a native of Brown county, his birth having occurred in the township where he now resides, on the 11th of February. 1878. He is the eldest son of Emanuel Burnett, whose natal day was the 6th of June, 1842. The father, who is now living retired in the city of Green Bay, was one of the pioneers of Howard town- ship, where for many years he successfully engaged in quarrying, thus acquiring a competence which enables him to spend his latter years in well earned ease and comfort. For his wife he chose Theresa Walker, a native of Howard township, and to them were born fourteen children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Minnie; Sarah; Margaret; Roland S., our subject ; Emanuel, Jr., who is engaged in business with his brother, Roland ; Abigail; Royal ; and James.
Reared in a home of comfortable circumstances Roland S. Burnett received better advantages than fall to the lot of the average lad. At the usual age he began his education in the district schools of Howard town- ship, which he continued to attend until he was a youth of sixteen. He next spent ten months in a business college at Green Bay, following which
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he entered the Oshkosh Normal School, at Oshkosh, this state, of which institution he was a student for three years. He was attending the normal school when the Spanish war broke out, and together with a number of his fellow students joined a company, organized and drilled in the school. preparatory to going to the front if need be. They offered their services to the nation but were never called out. When he left the normal school Mr. Burnett returned home and took the position of foreman in his father's stone quarry, where he has ever since been engaged. He is energetic and enterprising in matters of business and met the responsibilities of his posi- tion so efficiently that he was gradually able to relieve his father of the greater portion of his duties, thus enabling the latter to live retired. IIe and his brother Emanuel. Jr., now have entire charge of the quarry, which they are operating with marked success, and are numbered among the representative business men of the community.
At Green Bay, on the 29th of May, 1907. Mr. Burnett was married to Miss Cecelia Masse, a daughter of Alphonso and Mary (Manning) Masse, the father a cigar manufacturer of Green Bay, and to them have been born two children, Roland, Jr., and Kathleen Madalene.
Mr. and Mrs. Burnett are communicants of the Roman Catholic church. and fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is independent, giving his support to such men and measures as he deems best adapted to serve the highest interests of the people. A young man of excellent habits, upright principles and commendable butsi- ness methods, Mr. Burnett enjoys the respect and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances, the majority of whom have known him from boyhood and regard him as a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family.
JOHN R. MINAHAN, M. D.
The men who follow the professions of law, medicine or the ministry are always in some degree set apart by their fellow citizens as the guardians of something high and sacred. They are the helpers of mankind in their different directions and in their varying degrees they aid their fellowmen. Particularly is this true of the profession of medicine. The doctor sees the heart of the world and accordingly as his mental sensibilities are fine- grained and his humanitarian instincts well developed will he be a success or failure in his profession. A doctor who regards his profession as more than a mere means to material success is J. R. Minahan, who ranks very high among the surgeons of America, and is one of the most able and successful surgeons in the state, at Green Bay. Wisconsin. He is a native of this state, having been born at New Holstein, Calumet county, September 6, 1862. His parents were William B. and Mary Minahan. His father was a native of Ireland and came to this country with his parents in 1840. They settled first on a farm in New York state where William Minahan remained until 1860, when he came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in Calumet county. He became very prominent in this district during his
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life, was superintendent of schools for eighteen years and kept his political policy consistently republican. He died in 1906 at the age of seventy-three years. His wife's death occurred in 1902, when she was sixty-three years of age, and both are buried in the Allouez cemetery.
Dr. Minahan attended the country schools of Calumet county and entered the Chilton high school at the age of twelve years. Upon his graduation he attended the State Normal School at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he remained for two years, graduating at the age of about nineteen years. From 1880 until 1885 he taught school in Calumet county and also Mequon, abandoning this occupation to enter Rush Medical College at Chi- cago, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1889. He started practicing at Casco, Kewaunee county, Wisconsin, and remained there until his removal to Green Bay in December, 1891, where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession with remarkable success since that time. He is an indefatigable student. Ile keeps his knowledge modern and his methods and equipment thoroughly up-to-date by constant reading of the newest medical journals and the most approved medical books. He is a member of the county, state and national medical associations, is promi- nent in the Western Surgical Association and is one of the best known physicians in this county. In the course of his career as a medical practi- tioner he has acquired considerable fortune which he has increased by judicious investment in local enterprises. He erected and owns the Mina- han building, the most handsome and modern business block in the city, in which his offices are located and is also proprietor of the Green Bay Theater and owner of the Bill-Posting Company of this city. Ever since his arrival here he has been identified with St. Vincent's Hospital and is a member of the staff of that institution. He and his brother. Dr. R. E. Minahan, have beautifully appointed and thoroughly modern operating rooms attached to the hospital, each having his own private operating room and attendants, where every morning they devote their time and skill to suffering humanity. Dr. Minahan holds the position of surgeon for the Green Bay & Western Railroad, the Chicago & Northwestern, the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Green Bay, Kewaunee & Sturgeon Bay lines. He is not active in political circles although he always votes the republican ticket. He is a very prominent member of the order of Elks and is first vice president of the state organization. The Minahan building in which his offices are now located and which he erected is one of the largest office buildings in this city, being six stories in height. The exterior is plain white, and it does much to beautify Green Bay. It contains a large clothing store, a drug store, a buffet and the offices of many professional men of Green Bay. The government weather bureau is also located therein and from its top are displayed the flags and lights, which by day and night send forth their warnings to the sailing craft of the bay. The electric Light Company occupies a large amount of space in the basement of this building, having a franchise for lighting a large part of the city and also the Sherwood Hotel. The building is operated under the name of the Minahan Building Company.
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Dr. Minahan has two sons, John and Robert, both students of the pub- lic schools of this city. He is now fifty years old, in the prime of his career, which has been distinguished during its entire course by concentrated industry. Dr. Minahan is a hard worker, being a firm believer in the efficacy of labor, and urged on by the thought of that night, which "cometh wherein no man can work."
JOHN PETER MILLER.
John Peter Miller is engaged in the contracting and house moving busi- less at Green Bay and in this connection is widely known. He is also a representative of one of the pioneer families of the city, for his parents located here in 1845. It was on the 9th of September of the following year that John Peter Miller was born, a son of Jacob Miller, who was a farmer by occupation and came to America in 1845. He made his way to Green Bay, where he followed gardening and also worked as a general laborer. He at one time owned and occupied the old Jourdain home, which is used as one of the illustrations in the historical volume. He married Margaret Hopbrecht, who was also born in Germany, in the same locality in which her husband's birth occurred. He died in January, 1890. when eighty-four years of age, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-two. They were one of the oldest German families living in Green Bay and here they reared their seven children, of whom two are living, Nicholas and John, the former also mentioned in this volume.
After acquiring his education in the schools of Green Bay, John P. Miller engaged in teaming to the age of twenty-six years, when he turned his attention to the business of house moving. He was also an engineer in the canal work for the United States for two seasons but for a long period has concentrated his energies and attention upon house moving and general contracting. He was given the contract for the St. Paul Railway offices, the freight house and other extensive buildings here. The extent and importance of his business affairs render him a leading citizen of Green Bay and to him is accorded a most liberal patronage in his line. IIe is prompt and faithful in the execution of his contracts, at all times reliable, and he understands his work so thoroughly that the best results are always accomplished.
In 1868 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Magdalene Fedemeyer, who was born December 12, 1842, in Luxemburg, Germany, a daughter of Wil- liam and Magdalene Fedemeyer, who came to America in 1846, making their way to Milwaukee, the father owning property where now stands the Gimbel store. He was a tailor by trade. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born the following named children: Jacob W., now a business man of Dubuque, Iowa, married Julia Lehan and they have one daughter, Mary. George A. is an engineer living in Seattle, Washington. Charles L., a machinist of Green Bay, married Ella Knapp and they have an adopted son, Russell. Robert H. is an engineer of Green Bay. Grace M. is acting
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as stenographer in a land and abstract office and is also keeping house for her father.
The family are communicants of St. John's Catholic church and Mr. Miller also belongs to the Holy Name Society. In politics he is a democrat well informed concerning the questions and issues of the day but never seeking nor desiring office, yet he is not remiss in the duties of citizenship and manifests an active interest in good government and those projects which tend to advance the general welfare.
MRS. ANNIE BORRMEANS.
Mrs. Annie Borrmeans, the widow of Alphonso Borrmeans, resides on section 16, Howard township, and is well known in Brown county, hav- ing spent her entire life here. Her birth occurred in Howard township on the 4th of January, 1875, her parents being Peter and Ricka (Adolph) Marto. The father, who was born in Finland on the 24th of April, 1854. emigrated to the United States as a young man and took up his abode in the town of Howard in this county. He still lives here and has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire busi- ness career, enjoying a reputation as one of the substantial and esteemed citizens of the community. His wife was called to her final rest in 1896.
Annie Marto attended the Chapple school in the town of Howard until twelve years of age, while during the next seven years she remained at home and assisted in the household duties. On the 17th of June, 1894, she gave her hand in marriage to Alphonso Borrmeans and undertook the care of a home of her own. She lost her husband on the 29th of September, 1910, and since that time has had charge of the garden of forty-two acres to- gether with six head of cattle and three horses. Under her able manage- ment the property has remained productive and valuable and she is also an expert butter maker, selling her butter in the city of Green Bay. She has seven children and is providing them with good educational as well as other advantages. They are named as follows: Lena, Peter, Frank, Angeline, Philimine, Audrey and William. Mrs. Borrmeans belongs to St. Wallebrod's congregation of the Holland church at Green Bay and ex- emplifies its teachings in her daily life.
ARTHUR PEETERS.
For more than sixteen years the name of Peeters has been successfully identified with the industrial interests of Green Bay, the family now being ably represented in the person of Arthur Peeters, one of the partners in the Peeters Baking Company, which enterprise was founded by his father. The latter is a native of Hoboken, Belgium, whence he emigrated to the United States in the early 'gos with his parents, who came direct to Brown
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county, where many of their fellow countrymen had located and were meet- ing with a goodly measure of success in the development of their various in- terests. Upon his arrival here the father turned his attention toward agri- cultural pursuits, acquiring ten acres of land in the vicinity of this city, which he cultivated for five years. At the expiration of that time he left his farm and went into partnership with a friend in the establishment of a bakery. He severed his connection with the enterprise after operating it for a short time and coming to Green Bay established a bakery on Pine street. Five years later he removed his shop to East River, where he con- tinued for five years and then sold out to E. Andre. He in turn purchased the business of H. Miller on Broadway, but at the end of another two years he likewise disposed of this and withdrawing from business activities retired to his farm. As he was thoroughly familiar with every detail of the trade and conducted his business in a first class manner, giving full and fair measure combined with superior quality, he prospered. His undivided at- tention is now given to the cultivation and improvement of his attractive farm. It is a valuable holding of fifty acres, located within the city limits. and not only affords him a good income but is a most desirable place of resi- dence. Mr. Peeters is still in his prime, having only passed the fifty-second anniversary of his birth. Our subject is the eldest in a family of nine, whose other members are as follows : Mary, the wife of Alphonso Perion, of Green Bay ; Louis, also a resident of Green Bay ; Frank, who is assisting his father with the work of the farm: Rosa, who married T. Rassmussen. of Green Bay ; and John, Amanda, Nora and Lucy, all of whom are living at home. All but the three last named were born in Belgium.
The education of Arthur Peeters was begun in the schools of his native land and completed in those of Brown county. After laying aside his text- books he entered the employ of his father, under whom he received his commercial training and subsequently learned the baker's trade. He con- tinuously followed this vocation here and elsewhere, spending eighteen months in the western states, until 1906. After his marriage he engaged in railroading for two years, and then bought out his father's business. The store was located on Broadway at that time, but soon after taking possession Mr. Peeters removed to the old stand on East River. Two years later he took John Christensen into partnership, the business having since been con- ducted under the name of the Peeters Baking Company. This is not only one of the oldest establishments of the kind in the city but they maintain one of the largest plants, giving employment to thirteen people. They sell to both the wholesale and retail trade and as they are careful to conform to a high standard of commercial integrity, utilizing a good quality of ma- terials in the manufacture of their products. are being accorded a large and constantly increasing patronage, shipping their goods throughout the sur- rounding country. In connection with their bakery they operate an ice cream and confectionery parlor and a grocery store, dealing exclusively with the retail trade in the last named departments.
The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Arthur Peeters was formerly Miss Marie Dedeycker. She was born in Belgium on the 22d of July. 1889, and is a daughter of Peter Dedeycker. The father, who is a miner, was for
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many years employed in the mining districts of northern Michigan and Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Peeters have been born two daughters: Viola, who is five years of age ; and Evelyn, who has passed the fourth an- niversary of her birth.
The family attend the Roman Catholic church, in the faith of which the parents were reared. Mr. Peeters is a socialist having become an ad- herent of that party since he first began to study the questions of the day. He has been a member of the National Fraternal League of Green Bay for two years. He is one of the city's diligent and enterprising young business men, and in the development of his interests is meeting with the success that invariably rewards intelligent effort zealously employed in the achievement of a definite purpose.
HARRY E. BASCHE.
Harry E. Basche, who for many years was identified with the lumber interests of Green Bay but is now engaged in the saloon business here, is descended from one of the oldest families in the city. His birth here oc- curred on the IIth of September, 1864, his parents being Mitchell and Annetta Basche. The father was born in Germany but at the age of five years emigrated to the United States with his family, who came direct to Green Bay, being among the earliest pioneers of the city. Mitchell Basche was here reared to manhood and subsequently learned the carpenters' trade, which he followed during the remainder of his active life. He passed away at the age of seventy-three years. Six of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Basche are still living, our subject being the eldest. In order of birth the others are as follows: Ella, the wife of L. Bowers, of 539 Jef- ferson street, this city; Fred, who is a lumber inspector of Green Bay ; Richard, also a resident of this city; Hattie, the wife of A. Seward, of Milwaukee : and William, who is weighmaster of Green Bay.
The early life of Harry E. Basche was in every way similar to those of other lads reared in homes of the same circumstances. He attended the pub- lic schools until he had mastered the common branches, and then laid aside his text-books and became a wage earner. His early efforts in this direction were like those of other youths who have not been trained for any particu- lar line of work. He followed various occupations for a time but subse- quently engaged in clerking for six years. Later he became a member of the volunteer fire department, in which he held all of the offices, having served for years as driver. For two years he was fireman on the Milwau- kee & Northern Railroad, now the Milwaukee & St. Paul, but at the expira- tion of that time he turned his attention to commercial pursuits again, and for eighteen years was engaged in the lumber business. He subsequently withdrew from this and opened the saloon he is now conducting.
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